I’ve been getting asked Fantasy Football questions all year long. If you still are playing in a seasonal league this week, I do have one for you, though. Simply: “Why?” Most sensible commissioners set up their leagues to end in Week 16. There are too many situations in past seasons where in the final week of the NFL regular season where key starters were being rested. The best team truly does not win when the Fantasy Super Bowl is in Week 17. We did get lucky this season as the Redskins and Texans may be the only teams to sit or limit key starters. In the future, it can and will be worse, as important players will be unavailable or very risky in the final week. Petition your commissioner for a change as to maintain the true integrity of the league.

For those of you that did win your league Super Bowls in Week 16, congratulations. But now it’s time to look ahead to next season, while also keeping the fun going playing daily fantasy football or in NFL playoff leagues. Keeper leaguers will have to start considering their key decisions. I advise to prioritize “anchor” players at running back and wide receiver first and foremost. That means you should consider keeping a possible No. 1 RB or WR first to anchor your two most important positions. Quarterback is deeper, and tight-end selections will be less frequently kept unless you have a very elite player. A second outstanding receiver should often not get the call over that RB1 type you may need. Of course, nothing is absolute and each decision will be unique.

Yearly leaguers will now look back on 2015 and consider the lessons they may have learned while also starting to consider who they will take with their early picks in 2016. As soon as one season finishes, passionate fantasy players already want to start thinking about who to take in the first round next year. You already can see 2016 mock drafts and rankings popping up on the Internet.

The first round in 2015 turned out to be a minefield, filled with busts (Eddie Lacy, C.J. Anderson) and injured fallen stars (Dez Bryant, Jamaal Charles, Marshawn Lynch). Those who did live up to expectations, such as Antonio Brown and Julio Jones, certainly will be taken very early. Expect to see some receivers crowd up the early board for next year, as they are perceived as safer selections. When we were rolling out the likes of Tim Hightower and Christine Michael deep into the Fantasy playoffs, many owners will remember that vividly and will be much less apt to spend that first pick on a running back.

So along with Brown and Jones, Odell Beckham Jr. and DeAndre Hopkins will be top-5 picks in many leagues. If Tony Romo is healthy, Dez Bryant still will get first-round consideration, and the young and surging Allen Robinson could be the fifth receiver off the board in many leagues.

Savvy Fantasy owners will wait on quarterbacks, while Rob Gronkowski is a surefire first-rounder in most leagues.

A new wave of running backs will make their way into the first round next year. Of course, Le’Veon Bell will get a pass for his suspension and time missed due to a right knee injury, because he is the most versatile and productive running back when he is available. But the Petersons and Lynch spots of the past will now be occupied by the likes of Todd Gurley, DeVonta Freeman and David Johnson. Gurley has the obvious pedigree and superstar potential, and Freeman was a breakthrough and well-rounded performer for this season. Johnson was a prospect we waited patiently for to deliver and he came through in a big way in the fantasy playoffs. Doug Martin also will make his return to the first round after a big comeback season.

Johnson is versatile and has a lot of talent, but may need to prove himself over a full season at a high level before truly earning a first-round tag. Martin has disappointed before and did not score enough this season. Lots can change between now and the summer as well, so for now, it is all fun speculation. Let the scouting for 2016 begin, though. The studying and preparation never can begin too early if you want to win it all again.
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